Seamless Transition to the Formal Economy Deemed Vital
By: November 21, 2016 ,The Key Point:
The Facts
- Meanwhile, Bank of Jamaica (BoJ) Governor, Brian Wynter, underscored the importance of getting more informal businesses regularized.
- LatinFinance is the leading source of market intelligence on the economies of Latin America and the Caribbean.
The Full Story
Finance and Public Service Minister, Hon. Audley Shaw, says the ease of doing business in Jamaica must facilitate a seamless transition of businesses operating informally to the formal economy.
Speaking at the 2nd annual LatinFinance Caribbean Finance and Investment Forum at the Montego Bay Conference Centre on November 17, Mr. Shaw noted that potential entrepreneurs were often discouraged from utilizing the formal procedures to establish businesses.
This, he said, consequent on the bureaucratic nature of this undertaking, while noting “clear and overwhelming evidence” of informal practices particularly among micro, small and medium-size enterprises (MSMEs).
“What we find is that these entrepreneurs often resort to operating within the informal sector, which has less protection for labour conditions,” Mr. Shaw pointed out.
This, he indicated, places them at a great disadvantage as it renders them more vulnerable to labour shocks.
Hence the need to ensure that the process for establishing businesses is more accommodating, Mr. Shaw added.
Meanwhile, Bank of Jamaica (BoJ) Governor, Brian Wynter, underscored the importance of getting more informal businesses regularized.
This, he said, in order to ensure that the country is not, among other things, deprived of potential tax revenue.
Speaking with JIS News, Mr. Wynter emphasized that “it is imperative that we find ways to bring people into the formal sector, where we will definitely know who is doing what.”
In this regard, he agreed that “we have to create the environment that will make it easier for persons wanting to make the transition from the informal into the formal sector.”
LatinFinance is the leading source of market intelligence on the economies of Latin America and the Caribbean.
It has covered developments related to the banking and capital markets in the region for more than 25 years.